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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet l.

J. W. SNELL.

SOLE $EWING MACHINE.

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; SOLE SEWING MACHINE. 1 0. 591',019. Patented OQt. 5,1897.

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(No Model.)

J. W. SNELL. SOLE SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 5, 1897.

ESSEE WIT 7H5 nonms PETERS co. momma, wAsulnmorl, a4 a UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

m n s w. SNELL, or LYNN, "MAssAoi-msETTs, ASSIGNOR TO LIZZIE n. SNELL, or sAMn PLACE.

SOLE-SEWING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,019, dated October 5, 1897.

Application filed October 21, 1896. Serial No. 609,537. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES \V. SNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sole-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact clescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifi atiomin explaining its nature. V

Theinvention is an'improvement upon that described in Pat-ent No. 378,759, dated February 2S, 1888, and granted George Blakeney;

and it consists in means whereby there is established in a sole-sewing machine during the sewing operation a continuous and uninterrupted flow of water or other m'oiste ning liquid to the sole which is being sewed in line with the seam and slightly in advance of the action of the stitching devices, and whereby also this continuous flow is started by the same motion of the operator which is used in starting the machine and is stopped by the motion used in stopping the machine.

The invention is applicable to all types of sole-sewing machines, and I have represented it in Figures 1 and 2 as contained in asole-sewing machine known as the McKay or horn machine, in Figs. 3 and 4 as contained in a welt-sewing machine, and in Figs. 5 and 6 as contained in a machine for sewing the fairstitch, so called.

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of enough of a horn-machine to represent the combination of my improvement with the mechanism of the machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of portions of the work-holding and stitch-forming devices. Fig. 3 is a view, principally in front elevation, of portions of the frame and stitching mechanism of a welt-sew ing machine, showing the connection of my inventiontherewith. Fig. 4 is a detail view, enlarged, of portions of the stitch-forming devices and shoe-rest. Fig. 5 is a view, principally in front elevation, of enough of the frame of a fair-stitch sewing-machine and its stitch-forming devices to show the connection of my invention therewith. Fig. 6 is a detail View, enlarged, of a portion of the stitcl1-forming devices.

' It is unnecessary to describe the construction and operation of the various stitch-forming devices of these machines, as they are well known and understood; "neither is it necessary to describe the difference in the types of rests which are employed in these machines. In each of them there is a rest which supports the boot or shoe while the sole is being stitched to the edge of the upper and insole, as in a horn-machine, or during the stitching of a welt to an insole, as in aweltsewing machine, or to the stitching of an outsole to a welt, as in a fair-stitch machine. In the horn-machine the rest is inside of the shoe and is known as the fhorn. In the weltmachine the rest is upon the outside of the shoe, and the shoe is held against'it by the operator during the stitching operation. In the fair-stitch machine the rest is upon the outer side of the shoe, and it receives the outsole or the welt, according as the shoe is held.

The seam in sole-sewing is usually laid in a channel-in the outsole as in the case of a horn-sewing machine and fair-stitch machine and in the insole as in the case of a welt-machine. The various instrumentalit-ies which cooperate in forming the stitch, feeding the shoe, and holding the shoe are grouped together and are practically in line with each other, and the most desirable member of these instrumentalities for delivering the water or moistening fluid to the sole is the presserfoot, and I have represented the presser-foot as so used in the drawings. The water or fluid may, however, be delivered by a separate or independent nozzle located, preferably, upon the side of the presser-foot opposite that upon which the needle is located and having its outlet near the lower end of the presser-foot and close to it. \Vhere the presser-foot is used as a supply-nozzle, it is made hollow in whole or in part and is provided with a discharge-outlet at or near its lower end, and as the presser-fo0t is movable the supply-pipe connected therewith is flexible and has slack thesupply-can and the outlet in the presserfoot or other supply-nozzle is a valve which is connected with the main treadle of the machine used for starting and stopping it, and which valve part-akes of the movement of the treadle, being opened upon the downward movement of the treadle to start the machine and being held opened while the treadle is held depressed and being closed by the treadle when released by the operator upon its upward movement and being held closed by the treadle while lifted and in its highest position. This insures that the valve shall be opened simultaneously with the starting of the machine and by the same motion and that it be held opened by the treadle, which maintains the machine in operation, and that during such interval that there shall be supplied to the sole through the presser-foot or nozzle a continuous uninterrupted supply of water or fluid, which is in no wise affected or changed by any action of the valve. It also insures the closing of the valve by the motion which stops the operation of the machine and the holding closed of the valve by such device while the machine is inoperative, thus immediately stopping and holding stopped the further flow of the water or other liquid. At all other times the valve is at rest, and consequently it is subjected to very little wear and can always be maintained tight and operative.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the presser-foot in each figure. In Figs. 2, 5, and 6 it is represented as having the passage a extending lengthwise it in whole or in part. In Fig. 2 it is represented as extending practically its entire length and as having its outlet at a slightly above its working end. In Fig. 6 the outlet is shown as extending through the bottom of the foot. In Fig. 2 the presser-foot holder a has a short pipe-section a which extends into the hole a in the side thereof and which opens into the upper end of the cavity receiving the shank of the presser-foot, and the passage (1 in the presserfoot is thus connected with the end of the flexible pipe a This flexible pipe extends to the supply can or reservoir B and is broken at any desired point to make connection with the valve 0. The section of the flexible pipe between the valve O and the presser-foot is of suflicient length to permit the movements of the presser-foot. The valve 0 is fastened to any stationary part of the frame and is itself stationary and is of any desired type. It has connected with its stem an arm or lever 0, the movement of which opens or closes the valve. This arm extends horizontally from the stem when the valve is closed, and its outer end is connected with the main start- 'ing and stopping treadle C of the machine ower-shaft 0 also has a member a of a, I

clutch, which is fastened to the shaft and turns with it, and the starting-treadle G is adapted to move the pulley a into contact with the face of the clutch c to start the stitching mechanism and to hold the pulley insuch engagement with the clutch so long as it is desired that the stitching operation shall continue. This movement of the pulley into engagement with the clutch 0 also moves downward the arm 0 and opens the valve C, permitting the water or liquid to flow freely through it and the pipe a and the valve is held open by the treadle C as long as the pulley c is held in contact with the clutch c". When the treadle O is released, the spring 0 which has been made operative by the downward movement of the treadle, serves to move the outer end of the treadle C upwardly and to move the pulley from contact with the clutch c and to at the same time move upward the arm 0 and the rod 0, closing the valve 0 and holding it closed.

In Figs. 3 and at the discharge-nozzle is not formed by the presser-foot, but it is repre sented as supported thereby and as attached thereto. It is made in the form of a pipe (1, the lower portion of which is bent to the curvature of the presser-foot and the outlet cl of which is near the lower end of the presserfoot and upon the side removed from the needle. This pipe is fastened to the presserfoot or to the IDIGSSGI fOODS holder by a clamp CV, and at its upper end it is connected with the flexible supply-pipe a.

In Fig. 2, E represents the horn-rest.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I represents the side rest, and in Figs. 5 and 6, G represents the sole or welt rest.

The presser-foot may be of any suitable form. I have represented one having a notch across its working end to form a spur or point which shall serve to prevent the slipping of the sole when tipped at an angle to the pres ser-foot.

The advantages of the invention arise from the continuous uninterrupted flow of water or other moistening fluid assured during the stitching operation, to the opening of the flow upon the starting of the machine and by the starting movement, and to the maintenance of the flow by the same means which continues the operation of the machine and to the closing of the flow by the same instrumentality and at the same time and at the same movement that the machine is stopped. This not only places the control of the supply of the water or fluid absolutely in the operator, but it also provides a construction which is very cheap and very durable, as the valve is operated only at the beginning of the flow and at the end of the flow. The rod 0 may be ad- ICS justable as to length, if desired, and it is represented in the figure as made in two parts, which are united by a uniting-block, in which the ends of the parts are adjustable.

The valve is stationary and attached to the stationary frame of the machine, and is therefore somewhat remote from the nozzle. This requires that the valve be connected to the nozzle by a relatively long section of flexible pipe, which is carried about the working parts of the machine to the nozzle.

I would say that by the term presserfoot I mean any instrumentality in close proximity to the needle the end of which ex tends into the channel of the sole during the stitching operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a sole-sewing machine, in combination with the stitch-forming devices, a nozzle having a discharge-opening at or near its lower end and contiguous to the stitch-forming devices as specified, a source of water or fluid supply, a flexible pipe connecting it with the said nozzle, a valve in said pipe and a treadle connected with said valve and with the starting and stopping mechanism of the sewingmachine, whereby the movement of the treadle in one direction starts the machine and simultaneonsly opens the valve, and the continued actuation of .the treadle keeps the machine in operation and the valve open, and the release of the treadle permits the stopping of the machine and closes the valve.

2. In asole-sewing machine, in combination with a nozzle arranged to discharge water or other moistening fluid in the channel of the sole in close proximity to the stitch-forming devices, a valve and pipe connecting said valve \viththe nozzle, a treadle connected with the starting mechanism of the sewingmachine to operate the same, and with the valve whereby the valve is opened simultaneously with the starting of the sewing-machine and by a single movement of a treadle.

3. In a sole'sewing machine, a nozzle having the outlet in close proximity to the stitching devices and in the channel of the sole, a valve, a pipe connecting the valve with the nozzle, a lever, a treadle automatically moved upon its release to disengage the power from the stitching-machine and a connection be-- tween said treadle 01' a part automatically moved therewith and the said valve, as and for the purposes described.

4. The combination in a sole-sewing machine of a nozzle having an outlet in close proximity to the lower end of the presser-foot, a valve, a pipe connecting said valve with the said nozzle and a spring connected with the said valve to close the same automatically upon the release of the spring.

- 5. In a sole-sewing machine, the combination of a nozzle having an outlet at or near the lower end of the presser-foot, a valve, a pipe connecting said valve with the nozzle and means actuated upon the starting of the machine to open the valve upon the starting of the machine and to close the valve upon the stopping of the machine and to hold it continuously open during the operation of the machine.

G. The combination in a sole-sewing machine of a nozzle having an outlet in or near the lower end of the presser-foot, a valve and supply-pipe connecting the valve with the nozzle, the treadle C, the power-shaft 0 the clutch-pulley 0 upon said shaft free to turn thereon and connected with said treadle, the pulley 0 upon the main shaft of the sewing machine, the belt 0 the clutch member 0 fixed to the power-shaft c, the spring 0 and a connection between the valve C and the said treadle O.

7. A sole-sewing machine having a solemoisteniug device, a valve and means for actuating the valve, whereby it is opened upon the starting of the machine, held continuously open during its operation and is automatically closed upon the stopping of the v machine.

8. The combination of the valve 0 attached 

